Regarding Archbishop John Nienstedt
Contact: Ned McGrath | 313-886-4114 | mcgrath.ned@aod.org
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, a former auxiliary bishop of Detroit, who went on to serve in Minnesota as bishop of New Ulm and archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and who currently resides in southeast Michigan, has received determinations – and restrictions – from the Vatican regarding allegations of inappropriate conduct with both minors and adults, and involving certain decisions made during his tenure as archbishop. Archbishop Nienstedt himself has denied the allegations.
As a result of their investigations, the Vatican’s Dicasteries for Bishops and for the Doctrine of the Faith did not support a finding that Archbishop Nienstedt, 76, had committed any canonical delict (crime). Accordingly, the allegations against Archbishop Nienstedt, who resigned in 2015, were deemed unfounded.
The Vatican, however, did determine several instances of “imprudent” actions by Archbishop Nienstedt while in Minnesota warranting the following:
- Archbishop Nienstedt may not exercise any public ministries in what’s known as the Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis. (The Province covers the 10 Catholic dioceses in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.)
- Archbishop Nienstedt may not reside in the Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
- Archbishop Nienstedt may not exercise ministry in any way outside of his diocese of residence without the express authorization of the local bishop and only after the Dicastery for Bishops has been informed.
As this relates to the Archdiocese of Detroit, the matter involving Archbishop Nienstedt is under review. A statement from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis can be found here.
Born: March 18, 1947 (Detroit, Michigan)
Ordained Detroit Priest: July 27, 1974
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Alton: June 12, 1996
Ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit: July 9, 1996
Appointed Third Bishop of New Ulm: June 12, 2001
Installed Bishop of New Ulm: Aug. 6, 2001
Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: April 24, 2007
Succeeded as Tenth Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: May 2, 2008
Resigned: June 15, 2015
